Bioethics and Jainism: From <em>Ahiṃsā</em> to an Applied Ethics of Carefulness
Although Jainism has been largely absent from discourses in bioethics and religion, its rich account of life, nonviolence, and contextual ethical response has much to offer the discussion within and beyond the Jain community. In this essay, I explore three possible reasons for this discursive absenc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/4/243 |
| _version_ | 1818516941724188672 |
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| author | Brianne Donaldson |
| author_facet | Brianne Donaldson |
| author_sort | Brianne Donaldson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although Jainism has been largely absent from discourses in bioethics and religion, its rich account of life, nonviolence, and contextual ethical response has much to offer the discussion within and beyond the Jain community. In this essay, I explore three possible reasons for this discursive absence, followed by an analysis of medical treatment in the Jain tradition—from rare accommodations in canonical texts to increasing acceptance in the post-canonical period, up to the present. I argue that the nonviolent restraint required by the ideal of <i>ahiṃsā</i> is accompanied by applied tools of carefulness (<i>apramatta</i>) that enable the evolution of medicine. These applied tools are derived from the earliest canonical strata and offer a distinct contribution to current bioethical discourses, demanding a more robust account of: (1) pervasive life forms; (2) desires and aversions that motivate behavior; (3) direct and indirect modes of harm; and (4) efforts to reduce harm in one’s given context. I conclude by examining these tools of carefulness briefly in light of contemporary Jain attitudes toward reproductive ethics, such as abortion and in vitro fertilization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T00:49:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e1cc4ba182445db817d2e608b665829 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T00:49:13Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e1cc4ba182445db817d2e608b6658292022-12-22T01:26:41ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442019-04-0110424310.3390/rel10040243rel10040243Bioethics and Jainism: From <em>Ahiṃsā</em> to an Applied Ethics of CarefulnessBrianne Donaldson0Chao Center for Asian Studies, Rice University, 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005, USAAlthough Jainism has been largely absent from discourses in bioethics and religion, its rich account of life, nonviolence, and contextual ethical response has much to offer the discussion within and beyond the Jain community. In this essay, I explore three possible reasons for this discursive absence, followed by an analysis of medical treatment in the Jain tradition—from rare accommodations in canonical texts to increasing acceptance in the post-canonical period, up to the present. I argue that the nonviolent restraint required by the ideal of <i>ahiṃsā</i> is accompanied by applied tools of carefulness (<i>apramatta</i>) that enable the evolution of medicine. These applied tools are derived from the earliest canonical strata and offer a distinct contribution to current bioethical discourses, demanding a more robust account of: (1) pervasive life forms; (2) desires and aversions that motivate behavior; (3) direct and indirect modes of harm; and (4) efforts to reduce harm in one’s given context. I conclude by examining these tools of carefulness briefly in light of contemporary Jain attitudes toward reproductive ethics, such as abortion and in vitro fertilization.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/4/243Jainismmedical ethicsbioethicsapplied ethicsreproductive ethicsabortionin vitro fertilizationcarefulnesscarelessness |
| spellingShingle | Brianne Donaldson Bioethics and Jainism: From <em>Ahiṃsā</em> to an Applied Ethics of Carefulness Religions Jainism medical ethics bioethics applied ethics reproductive ethics abortion in vitro fertilization carefulness carelessness |
| title | Bioethics and Jainism: From <em>Ahiṃsā</em> to an Applied Ethics of Carefulness |
| title_full | Bioethics and Jainism: From <em>Ahiṃsā</em> to an Applied Ethics of Carefulness |
| title_fullStr | Bioethics and Jainism: From <em>Ahiṃsā</em> to an Applied Ethics of Carefulness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bioethics and Jainism: From <em>Ahiṃsā</em> to an Applied Ethics of Carefulness |
| title_short | Bioethics and Jainism: From <em>Ahiṃsā</em> to an Applied Ethics of Carefulness |
| title_sort | bioethics and jainism from em ahimsa em to an applied ethics of carefulness |
| topic | Jainism medical ethics bioethics applied ethics reproductive ethics abortion in vitro fertilization carefulness carelessness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/4/243 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT briannedonaldson bioethicsandjainismfromemahimsaemtoanappliedethicsofcarefulness |